SWOT Analysis

One of Parks Protection Service off-road bikes used for rapid response

In recent years anti-social behaviour in Harold Wood Park, as with most of the borough’s parks, has been very minimal due to the regular patrols and effective intervention carried out by the team. In 2017 the team patrolled the park 53 times with 14 prompted by calls. No formal enforcement was required.

3.3 Parks Locking

Park gates and barriers that are closed in the evening are also managed by the Parks Protection Service. They have a Park Gates Supervisor who to manages a further small security team of Gate Operatives. Parks Constables will assist in the locking and unlocking of gates and barriers, where it is required to reduce crime or antisocial behaviour. As part of this duty they use marked council vehicles with flashing warning lights and on locking enter the park ringing a bell to announce closing time.

Harold Wood Park is secured each evening approximately half an hour after dusk and opened each morning by 8am.

3.4 Infrastructure

Repairs needed to the pathways, fencing, gates, signs and other items are carried out either by the in-house Parks Maintenance team (Supervisor and Assistant) in the first instance or if a more specialist repair or replacement is required a contractor is arranged through the Parks Development Team.

The majority of work is undertaken by the Parks Maintenance team who are trained and certified to weld, cut and work in play areas. Job sheets are allocated on the following priorities and an example can be found in Appendix 6.

Emergency (will be phoned through then followed up with job sheet) – same day High – within one week Medium – one month